Macedonia is a biblical country. The first Christian in Europe was a Macedonian girl – Lydia, baptized by Apostle Paul. Today in Macedonia exist 992 churches and monasteries, 50 000 m2 fresco painting, 23 000 icons (4-th most valuable collection in the world), 240 iconostasis, baldachins and bishop’s thrones performed in stone of wood. Great value has 20 iconostases in church items carved in wood. Ohrid is known as the “Macedonia Jerusalem”, 365 churches, one church for every day in the year and for this reason is protected by UNESCO. Today we will find monasteries from XI century which was really sanctuary with centuries for Macedonians and give them strength all this period. Parts of cross of Jesus are in the basis of three Macedonians monasteries. Macedonians are proud with their monasteries and churches. WELCOME - and you will see a country from the Holy Bible.

Day 1 - Skopje
Welcome to Macedonia, we will be waiting for your arrival at Skopje. Together we will depart for your hotel and you will have time for accommodation. We will visit the church of “St. Savior” that owns magnificent wood carved iconostasis made in the period between 1819 - 1824 We will have a walk in the old Skopje bazaar and the malls in the city center. Dinner in a national restaurant.

Day 2 - Skopje
After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit the monastery “St. Nikita“ near Gornjane (6 km), this monastery dates from the 14th century and is dedicated to the holy warrior Nikita. The frescoes are work of the famous painters Michail and Eutychios and here can be seen the cycles “Miracles of Jesus Christ” and “The Passion of the Christ”. Next for visit is the church of “St. Panteleimon” in the village Gorno Nerezi (22 km). This church is considered to be one of the most important monuments of the byzantine architecture, built in 1164 as an endowment from Alexis Angelos Komnenos. Here is the freskopaint the “Lamentation of Christ” which is the forerunner of the Italian renaissance. The group have lunch in the restaurant enclosed in the church complex, then visits the church. Next is the monastery of “St. Demetrius”, called the Markov Monastery in the village of Markova Susica (18 km), built by the King Marko the famous Macedonian ruler from the 14th century. In the fresco paints are presented the King Marko and his father Volkashin in their original size. Returning back to the hotel in Skopje (17 km) and dinner in a national restaurant.

Day 3 – Skopje – Lesok - St. Jovan Bigorski – Kichevo - Ohrid
After breakfast in the hotel, first we will visit the monastery “St. Andrew”, built by the Andrew, brother of King Marko in 1388/9 which frescoes are well preserved. The monastery is located on the bank of the river Treska and the lake Matka (17 km). Next stop is the monastery complex in Leshok village (40 km), Tetovo area and there we will visit the two churches: the church ”St. Atanasij” a small church dating from the 14th century which is fresco painted and the other church is dedicated to the “The Holy Virgin” from the XX century. Lunch in the monastery restaurant. Continuing the journey with the visit of the monastery of “St. John At Bigor” (70 km) where can be seen the unique wood carved iconostasis made by the great woodcarver, Petre Filipovich – Garkata. Next visit is the Monastery “The Holly Virgin Immaculate” near Kichevo (50 km), fresco painted by the famous Macedonian fresco painter Dicho from Tresonche. Accomodation in the hotel in city of Ohrid (65 km).Dinner.

Day 4 – Ohrid – Struga - Ohrid
Breakfast in the hotel. We will visit the church ”St. Archangel Michael” in Radozdha (25 km) in Struga area famous for the fresco paint of the saint Archangel Michael. We will visit the church “The Holy Virgin” in Kalishte (9 km), city of Struga, small church and partially built in a cave. The lunch will be in the restaurant. Then, leaving for city of Ohrid (16 km), called “the Balkanian Jerusalem” and visiting the church “The Holly Virgin Perivleptos” built in year 1295 by Progun Zgur who was a relative of the byzantine tsar. The church amuses with its frescoes painted by Michael and Eutichios. In the church complex is enclosed - The Gallery of Icons, that consists of 30 icons from the Mediaeval times. Visit to the church “St. Panteleimon”, built by St. Clement by the end of the IX century. The church was fully reconstructed in the year 2002. We will visit the small church “St. John the Theologian - Kaneo“ dating from the XIII century and has a unique view over the Ohrid lake. Dinner in a national restaurant.

Day 5 - Ohrid - St. Naum – Resen – Bitola
Breakfast in the hotel. We will visit the monastery “St. Naum” (27 km), raised by the saint Naum by the end of the IX century, today famous for its wooden iconostasis from 1711. Visit to the cathedral church “St. Sophia” (27 km), the center of the Ohrid patriarchy during the ruling of tsar Samoil. We will have lunch in a restaurant and we will continue our trip to Kurbinovo (51 km). There, we will visit the church “St. George”, one isle church from the XI century and here we will see the wonderful fresco “Annunciation”. We will accommodate in a hotel in Bitola (25 km) and after we’ll have dinner in a national restaurant, to taste the Macedonian cuisine.

Day 6 – Bitola – Prilep – Kavadarci - Strumica
After breakfast in the hotel we will visit the cathedral church “St. Demetrius” from 1830. After that we will continue our trip to Prilep (43 km). We will visit the church “St. Archangels” in Varos, Prilep, where we will see frescoes with Macedonian rulers from the XIV century, King Marko and his father Volkashin. Next event is having lunch in a national restaurant in Prilep. We will visit church “St. Nikola” in Moklishte, near Kavadarci. We will continue our tour with journey to Strumica (130 km). We will accommodate in a hotel and have dinner in a nice restaurant.

Day 7 – Strumica – Berovo – Vinica – Stip
After breakfast in the hotel we will visit the complex church “St. Leontius” (5 km), reconstructed in 1979 and next we will visit the monastery “The Holy Mother Merciful” in Veljusa (4 km), master piece of Byzantine architecture from the XI century. We will continue our trip to Berovo (59 km) and have lunch in a restaurant. We will visit the monastery “St. Archangel Michail”, erected in 1818 with its wonderful icons. We will continue our tour to Vinica (40 km). There we will see the terracotta icons in the city museum dating from the VI century. We will go to Stip (35 km) and we will accommodate. Dinner in a restaurant - the tasteful stipska pastrmajlija (meat pie).

Day 8 – Stip – Probistip – Kriva Palanka
After breakfast in the hotel we will visit the church “The Holy Mother” built by the famous constructor Andrej Damjanov and the galery of icons placed in this complex. Afterwards we will continue our way to monastery “St. Gavril of Lesnovo” (40 km), erected in 1341 by the noble Despot Jovan Oliver and here we will see frescoes from saints Prohor Pcinski and Joakim Osogovski. We will have lunch in Probistip (5 km) and we will continue our way to Kriva Palanka. We will visit church “St. Joakim Osogovski” (17 km) on Osogovo mountain, erected by master –constructor Andrej Damjanov. The frescoes are made by Dimitar Andonov Papradiski. Overnight in the monastery complex. Dinner.

Day 9 – Kriva Palanka – Kumanovo – Skopje
After breakfast in the monastery restaurant we will travel to the church “St. George” in Staro Nagoricani (50 km), built by king Milutin in 1317/8. The grand fresco decoration is the work of the well known painters Mihail and Eutichios. We will continue our way to Kumanovo (15 km) and visit the cathedral church “St. Nikola”, another masterpiece of the master - builder Andrej Damjanov, where also we can find a gallery of icons. We will have lunch in a restaurant. We will depart for Skopje (52 km) and we will accommodate in a hotel. Dinner in a restaurant.